The levels of meaning that can be interpreted from the title of To Kill a Mockingbird

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Introduction

To Kill a Mockingbird has many elements that correlate with the title of the novel. Lee never states explicitly what the meaning of the novel is, and because of this we can interpret the title's significance in many different ways. One possible meaning we can interpret from the text is that the quiet, good, free-spirited character Tom Robinson is directly connected with the mockingbird. The mockingbird does not only stand for Tom Robinson, it also stands for the lost innocence of childhood and the absence of freedom that racial prejudice against black people creates. One possible meaning we can interpret from the title is that the mockingbird represents one who does not hurt anyone, in fact does nothing but "sings their heart out to us". ...read more.

Middle

The unanimous decision to incarcerate Tom Robinson, regardless of the evidence, was witnessed by Scout and Jem. It went against all their principles of fairness they had been taught and destroyed their view of the world as a fair and just place, making them another symbolic mockingbird. The significance of the mockingbird's symbology of freedom of spirit can also be closely associated with the racial prejudice presented throughout the novel. The blacks are denied the fundamental right of human beings, the right to live without persecution. If it's a sin to kill a mockingbird, it's a sin to deny the rights of people to just be. It is not lost on the reader that the trial of Tom Robinson is a mockery - loosely linking with the word in the title. ...read more.

Conclusion

"They could never, never understand that I live like I do because that's the way I want to live." Various different meanings can be interpreted from the title To Kill a Mockingbird. The most literal situation in the text, much alike the title, is the destroying of a good, free-spirited man. As well as this, the racial segregation throughout the novel and the destruction of childhood innocence are the major themes in To Kill a Mocking Bird which are enhanced by the title. When the other supporting themes of religion and injustice are included, the title can be seen to draw instinctive reactions from the reader against the fate that Tom Robinson met. Harper Lee feels strongly against racism, and the title definitely guides the reader to feel negatively about the death of the mockingbird - Tom Robinson. ...read more.

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This means mocking birds are vulnerable to those who wish to slaughter them. Mr Underwood's racist attitudes change at this point in the novel and he begins to believe that Tom is innocent and was only persecuted because of his race.

Mayella Ewell needed help for 'Busting chiffarobes'. So Tom Robinson offers to help Mayella Ewell for free, and in return Mayella Ewell accuses Tom Robinson of rape. Tom Robinson was found guilty of rape by the jury. Tom Robinson represents a mockingbird as he is innocent and seems harmless as he would not hurt anyone.

They invent a new game about Boo Radley. Jem plays Boo, Dill plays Mr. Radley, and Scout plays Mrs. Radley. They polish it up over the summer into a little dramatic reenactment of all the gossip they've heard about Boo and his family, including a scene using Calpurnia's scissors as a prop.

almost like she is swearing and this exaggerates and draws attention to her anger towards the callous crowds. But even though the letters at the beginning of the words are the same the sounds of them are different 'c' and 'ch'.

Harper Lee uses metaphors as well such as in this quote of her describing Walter Cunningham "Walter looked like as he had been raised on fish food; his eyes, as blue as Dill Harri's, were red-skimmed and watery" This is a detailed metaphor to describe Walter.

Tom finally says he just tried to help because he felt sorry for her, which stirs up the audience considerably. Mr. Gilmer asks whether Tom thinks Mayella was lying about asking him to chop up the chiffarobe in November - Tom avoids a potential trap by saying he thinks Mayella

can get Jem and Scout through it without bitterness, and most of all, without catching Maycomb's usual disease. Why reasonable people go stark raving mad when anything involving a Negro comes up, is something I don't pretend to understand...I just hope that Jem and Scout come to me for their answers instead of listening to the town.